A nurse is assisting with the care of a client 2 hr postoperative following a cardiac catheterization. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Check the client's distal pulses in both legs.
Keep the client overnight.
Keep the client on bed rest for 12 hr.
Restrict the client's oral fluids.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Check the client's distal pulses in both legs:
Checking the client's distal pulses in both legs is crucial to ensure that there is adequate blood flow and no signs of arterial occlusion or complications from the catheterization. This is an important assessment to detect potential vascular complications, such as a hematoma or an arterial blockage.
B. Keep the client overnight:
Keeping the client overnight is not typically required for all cardiac catheterization procedures. The need for an overnight stay depends on the individual case and any complications or comorbidities. Routine catheterizations often allow for discharge on the same day with appropriate monitoring.
C. Keep the client on bed rest for 12 hr:
Keeping the client on bed rest for 12 hours is excessive. Typically, bed rest is required for 2 to 6 hours following the procedure to allow the puncture site to stabilize and reduce the risk of bleeding. The exact duration of bed rest depends on the approach used and the patient's condition.
D. Restrict the client's oral fluids:
Restricting the client's oral fluids is generally not appropriate. In fact, increasing fluid intake is often encouraged to help flush out the contrast dye used during the procedure and to prevent renal complications. Monitoring for fluid balance is important, but outright restriction is not typically indicated unless there is a specific medical reason.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) Describe the surgery and what the client will experience postoperatively:
While it is essential to provide information about the surgery and the postoperative experience, the primary focus of preoperative teaching is to ensure that the client understands the information provided. This option does not specifically address the client's level of understanding, which is crucial for effective teaching.
B) Reinforce information at the client's level of understanding:
This is the correct choice. When contributing to the preoperative teaching plan, the nurse should ensure that information is provided in a way that the client can comprehend. Reinforcing information at the client's level of understanding enhances communication and ensures that the client is well-informed about the procedure and what to expect.
C) Reassure the client that the surgery rarely has any negative outcomes:
While it is important to provide reassurance and support to the client, it is not appropriate to make promises or provide guarantees about the outcome of the surgery. Surgery, by its nature, carries risks, and it is essential to provide the client with accurate information while maintaining a supportive and empathetic approach.
D) Notify the client's family of the plan of care:
While it is important to involve the client's family in the plan of care, the primary focus of preoperative teaching is on the client. Involving the family in the plan of care is important, but it is not the most immediate action in the context of preoperative teaching.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
(A) "I’ll breathe deeply and cough every 4 hours."
Deep breathing and coughing exercises should be done more frequently, typically every 1-2 hours while awake, to help prevent respiratory complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia.
(B) "I’ll splint my incision with a pillow to cough."
This statement indicates an understanding of the instructions. Splinting the incision with a pillow helps support the surgical site, reduces pain, and makes coughing more effective and less uncomfortable. This technique is important for clients to use to help clear secretions from the lungs postoperatively.
(C) "I’ll start to use the incentive spirometer when I can get out of bed."
The use of an incentive spirometer should begin as soon as possible, usually while the client is still in bed, to encourage deep breathing and prevent postoperative respiratory complications. It should not be delayed until the client can get out of bed.
(D) "I’ll lie flat in bed to cough and deep breathe."
Lying flat is not the optimal position for deep breathing and coughing exercises, as it can make it more difficult to fully expand the lungs. The client should be positioned with the head of the bed elevated or sitting up to facilitate better lung expansion and more effective coughing.
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